Watch episode 3 of Shop Talk where KatieMumsnet discusses the future of shopping with Ben Shephard. NOW CLOSED

[KatieBMumsnet]

Last week MNers were asked whether they prefer to shop online or hit the high street. Watch episode 3 of Shop Talk now to see if your comments made it on the show!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= WvS-vyPN8Gs

Barclaycard Freedom Rewards, in association with Mumsnet, have created a new weekly online chat show: Shop Talk. Over the next weeks, they'll be looking for MNers' shopping tips and tricks on a range of topics.

Here's what Barclaycard have to say about the show: "Shop Talk is a weekly chat show where we tackle the big shopping stories that you're talking about. A different presenter will host each show each week and this week its Ben Shephard. Two panellists, including shopping blogger Emily and Katie from MNHQ, joined Ben to discuss shopping online and how digital is changing the high street.

With regards to the Barclaycard Freedom Rewards credit card, Barclaycard say: With the Freedom Rewards credit card you can shop online through the Freedom Rewards Store to get at least 3 points per £1 with over 50 top brands.

The last episode of Shop Talk is hosted by Ruth Langsford: where we discuss your Christmas shopping tactics. Share your thoughts on next weeks thread here and you could win £150 worth of Argos vouchers.

Thanks,

MNHQ

[Eastpoint]

I like both high street shopping & shopping on line. If something is heavy I definitely prefer shopping on line, if it is from a store which I consider to be good quality I am happy up buy online, especially if I know what size I am, I am doing more & more shopping on line, I like being able to collect items from M&S, Waitrose & Tesco, it takes put the uncertainty of waiting for a courier. I like Collect+ for returns as there are always queues at our post office.
I end up going shopping for clothes as well, just not as often for me as in the past. My dd2 likes going shopping but dd1 likes choosing on line as she is a tricky size.
I get a supermarket delivery about once a week but have to do top up shops for veg & fruit.
We buy wine direct from wine merchants online.

[Anatanacoat]

Online always. Have grocery shopped online for over a decade and do almost all my other shopping online too these days. The high street is horrible. Chain stores are awful: crammed and too hot and playing terrible brain crashing music and yelling over the tannoy. No thanks.

I like market towns with charming little streets and interesting little shops and farmers markets etc. I still go out to those places, on a nice day, but as a destination - with a nice country walk and something to eat. I don't go to chain stores or godawful shopping centres. Just, why? The only good thing about them is that they are wheelchair accessible. That's it. That's the sole plus.

If the high street were like a really good pub, with comfortable chairs and a coal fire burning merrily away, quiet enough to talk, with steak and kidney pie on the menu... If I could sit with some good company and drink tea and order some tops and skinny jeans from a menu, I would go there. But Manchester city centre? No. I don't know why anyone does!

[amrobe]

I pretty much do all of my shopping online because there is always a discont code to use so things are cheaper than in the shops. I also use cashback sites so I try not to buy things in store, though I may look there at things first.

[OPeaches]

I do 80% of my food shopping online, and probably about 60% of clothes shopping. Having two young kids makes real-life shopping a horrible chore, which is such a shame because it used to be my favourite pastime.

[Mabelface]

I do the majority of my shopping in store. I like to see what I'm buying, and trying clothes and shoes on is a must in a shop as I can't be doing with the faff of having to return them if i buy them online. Food shopping is done in Aldi, so no home delivery option there although I would still prefer to choose my own fresh produce. No point ordering avocados online if they're delivered bulletlike and no use for the guacamole you wanted to make that evening.

[DoItTooJulia]

Majority food shopping online nowadays. If there is anything I need that's a bit different, or special, I'll go to the supermarket in person. Loads better only needing to pop in for a couple of bits.

Also I find that it gives me more time to shop around a bit. I can go to aldi for the things that are better or significantly cheaper. Or pop to Waitrose for the posh bits that I like occasionally.

For other things, if I know what I want, I'll order online, like toys or books. They are often cheaper if you shop around online.

Sometimes though, it's nice to browse in a shop.

So no definitive answer!

[MollyMango]

Online! You can sort by price, colour, size or lots of other things. Lots of places have free delivery an returns and takes the stress out of shopping

[MakeTeaNotWar]

Almost exclusively online - dont drive, have a baby and a toddler so taking the bus to the shops is a nightmare.

[sharond101]

Food instore as can pick and choose freshest and get end of day discounts.
Shoes instore as check they fit.
Clothes instore as can try them on and they always look different in real life.
Gifts and gadgets online as special offers and less hassle.

[BornToFolk]

I shop online a lot. The majority of my food shopping is online as I don't have a car. I love online food shopping as I can take my time and search out the good deals. I often do well out of substitutions too.

Books, toys and gifts are often bought online too.

Clothes and shoes I prefer to try on but even then, I'll go into a shop, try something on and then buy it online to take advantage of discount codes and cashback sites. I'm lucky that I can get things delivered to work or pick up from shops at lunchtime.

[MissBeehiving]

I much prefer to shop online - it's less hassle (no parking, other shoppers, sore feet) and I can narrow own what I'm looking for. It's also a lot cheaper because of the discount codes.

[NotShortImFunSized]

I love the ease of online shopping as it saves me taking 6 kids with me through packed shops, trying not to lose them or constantly listening to wails of "I'm boreeeddd!"

I almost always do food shopping online but it does annoy me that they send things that go out of date within a couple of days or send ridiculous substitutions.

I tend not to do clothes shopping online as it's always hit and miss with sizes and I end up going to the shop to exchange it all anyway.

Christmas presents, toys etc I almost always do online as I can't stand the packed shops this time of year and it is so much easier!

[flamingtoaster]

It depends what I am shopping for. If it's clothing or shoes then I prefer to shop in the high street where I can try things on and not be faced with the hassle of having to return things. For technology, DVDs, etc. then I shop online, comparing prices to get the cheapest option.

For food I would only shop online if I was ill or the car was totally unusable so I needed to get heavy stuff delivered - I'd still prefer to choose my own fruit and veg etc. even if I could.

[Pumpkintopf]

I do almost all of my shopping online. I pay for Tesco delivery saver and Amazon prime because I use them so much! I live in a very rural area but luckily we have a village post office just down the road so I don't find sending stuff back a hassle and I prefer to try on clothes etc at home, in comfort and with access to the other items I might like to wear them with. My children particularly DS don't enjoy shopping so if I do shop irl its usually with a freind, as a social activity.

[Nerfmother]

For 'duty' things like the endless christmas list I love online especially amazon. Also good for comparing prices on something I know I need as a present. I hate online clothes shopping, I went through a spell of it and the returns hassle is not worth it. Maybe it's because my mum lives locally now and I can go and try stuff on. Food shopping I tend to go through phases: it's easy for lists online but I miss seeing the new stuff or being tempted by something.

[GetKnitted]

I prefer shopiing in person for clothes, but online for books, movies and music :)

[MiconiumHappens]

I get increasingly annoyed with how often I am told in shops "you could try on line" no kidding! Shopping on line can be useful but I am a little worried shops -like Clarkes- are becoming too reliant on sending people away to buy on line. It does have its draw backs such as the delivery time, having to be in, sometimes the delivery cost, mistakes in the order/delivery. Also quality, colour, size can sometimes vary greatly from what you thought you were going to receive.

[RedBushedT]

I love to shop online for the convenience factor and getting everything delivered is great. However, I do enjoy the whole wandering around the shops, browsing at stuff etc. So I tend to get the bigger items online and then the smaller stocking fillers on the high street

[mindgone]

I do lots of my shopping online, especially Christmas shopping, it's SO much less hassle! I do food shopping in person though, because I like to see what I'm buying.

[Hopezibah]

We tend to do a big food shop online once a month (but go to store in between). For non-food items things like shoes need to be tried on really to check fit etc but other clothing and toys / gifts etc we are happy to buy online. Especially electronic items - much easier to research and buy online than trekking round the stores!

Most online stores tend to have a good customer service / refunds / returns policy because they can't risk it going wrong if they are relying on online sales so in our experience buying online can be a great way to save time and money.

[nappyrat]

Online shopping was my lifeline in the first couple of months after having my baby, I bought everything from breastfeeding tops to nappies. It was the first time I'd seriously Internet shopped in my life and was so useful.
5 months on, I'm a convert for grocery shopping.

[Knittingnovice]

Food shopping is best done in person, making sure the fruit and veg is fresh and checking all the dates on products, DH works for a supermarket and is adamant we will not switch to online, although we have done it for scout camps and holidays.

I love browsing round the shops if I am child free, but the reality is that at 6 foot tall and with a 36inch inside leg things like clothes have to be bought at specialist retailers and this means I have to shop online. Places that offer a tall range, like Next, New Look etc do not offer it in store. It annoys me that petite people always get a range, but even if a longer length is stocked you have to root around in the arse end of no where. A couple of times I have been in next and asked staff if something is available in extra long, to be told they don't offer extra long. Once I told her to go and get me a catalogue and pointed out their 'tall range' she was shocked.

I do a lot of shopping for toys for my 2 eldest DC (5 &3) online as they browse the amazon app on my iPad and have wish lists set up so they can have what they want.

Shopping online also gives you the added benefit of being able to use somewhere like quidco to make additional savings, although I recently realised that my debit card is registered anyway so i can get cash back in store.

I also do a lot of surveys and earn vouchers and these are dead easy to spend online so makes sense that a lot of my shopping is done this way.

One of my favourite things to do, when I am child free is to take the train to Brighton and wander the north and south lanes because then you can find all the quirky things you wouldn't on the internet.

I guess we are lucky to live in an age where we have both options.

[kateandme]

i shop online for food.but like browsing supermarkets when i do.
im fine with buying clothes online too.if i got more fasion concious i think id try before i buy more,but i like my hoodies!!

[MimsyBorogroves]

I love the bargains and the ease of online - it's often my downfall as paying behind a screen comes so much easier than in person.

For groceries, shop only. I shop at aldi, so the option of online isn't there. I am appalling at meal planning too, so often plan whilst shopping - and online I would probably forget stuff and have to go to the shop anyway.

I love browsing in bookshops, though the pleasure has waned with having children as I can't just stare at shelves for hours. Now I tend to just download on kindle from amazon based upon recommendations/deals and I feel like I'm missing out - I used to love Borders 3for2 where I would buy books based solely on covers and blurb, so found some amazing novels and some utter rubbish

Clothes shopping I mainly have to do in person. I would never buy trousers/skirts online because of sizing. I couldn't be arsed sending stuff back again - I had to once via amazon (broken DVD, not clothes) and it was so utterly painstaking that the idea puts me off. I do sometimes by from Joe Browns, but only tops as I know their size 12 fits.

[firawla]

Online tends to be better for me. Wider ranger easier to see everything, better prices, better deals, easier to compare.. and of course not having to drag kids round the shops also helps!